Thanks to the proliferation of ETFs over the years, more and more investors have started to shed their home-country bias. Education and ease-of-use have been the driving forces that have prompted countless investors to geographically diversify their portfolio’s equity component with ETFs; now more so than ever, investors are being mindful of their regional exposure and taking steps to ensure they are favorably positioned to take advantage of recoveries in various corners around the globe [see also Foreign Currency Risk 101: What Investors Need To Know].

Here is a look at ETFs that currently offer attractive short selling opportunities. The ETFs included in this list are rated as sell candidates for two reasons. First, each of these funds is deemed to be in a downtrend based on the fact that it is trading below its 200-day and 50-day moving averages, which are popular indicators for gauging long-term and medium-term trends, respectively. [click to continue…]

Here is a look at ETFs that currently offer attractive buying opportunities. The ETFs included in this list are rated as buy candidates for two reasons. First, each of these funds is deemed to be in an uptrend based on the fact that it is trading above its 200-day and 50-day moving averages, which are […]

Emerging markets have captivated investors for almost a decade when developed markets became a yield-barren investment. After years of pushing the limits of GDP growth and infrastructure spending, some emerging countries are finally losing steam. With the added stabilization in the European Union and U.S., investors have been abandoning their emerging holds in favor of past […]

International investing has earned its place in portfolio construction, as both academic studies and real-world experience have supported the idea that investing outside the United States can improve returns and actually reduce risk and volatility. Investors have a wealth of choices when it comes to using ETFs for international exposure, as there are over 400 […]

Much to the bears’ surprise this week, equity markets pulled off another green streak as euphoria levels remained strong. The bulls had few reasons to take profits as markets digested several upbeat earnings reports from big-name financials along with much better-than-expected weekly employment and housing starts data. Amid the improving outlook, the S&P 500 Index […]

As the bull parade continues on Wall Street, bearish pressures are mounting right around the corner with major equity indexes sitting on hefty gains since the new year began. After muted activity last week, economic data releases return to the home front this week alongside more earnings results from industry bellwethers, including Goldman Sachs, Ebay, and General […]

When it comes to diversifying a portfolio, many investors turn toward emerging market equities for their lucrative potentials. And while BRIC and other popular Asian nations are usually investors’ top picks to achieve this key exposure, investors may benefit from taking a closer look at an often overlooked opportunity: Africa. Though known for its geopolitical […]

ETFs continue to find their way into countless portfolios as investors of all styles have embraced these innovative tools for executing long-term strategies. Although the diversification benefits offered through the exchange-traded product structure are extremely valuable, many investors often times overlook the fact that even the most diversified portfolio is susceptible to rampant volatility. The integration of global financial […]

After a lackluster climax to last week’s Jackson Hole speech, investors finally got a dose of the stimulus that the markets have been craving. Major equity benchmarks staged a massive rally this past Thursday as investors rejoiced over the European Central Bank’s announcement of the “outright monetary transaction” plan, which aims to beef up the government bond-buying […]

And so it begins. Regarded by many as perhaps the most dismal month for the stock market, investors on Wall Street welcomed September with a sell-off. Aside from historical performance pointing to tumultuous trading in the weeks ahead, investors’ confidence remains plagued by the looming debt drama in Europe. Furthermore, political debates are heating up on the […]

Major equity indexes drifted lower throughout the week as resurfacing worries over Europe brought back the bear on Wall Street. Nonetheless, U.S. markets managed to end the week on a very positive note as better-than-expected durable goods orders data bolstered equity benchmarks higher. FOMC minutes surprisingly rattled the bulls despite talks of more stimulus to come; this […]